ABSTRACT
Introduction: The adequate treatment of acute pain after surgery is a humanitarian obligation for heath care professionals. Analgesia plays an important role in speeding the patient’s recovery, in reducing and limiting morbidity, as well as probably improving clinical outcomes. Significant knowledge deficit regarding currently accepted principles of pain management practice as well as beliefs that could interfere with optimal care, mandate a need for educational interventions.Objective: To assess the pain knowledge and attitudes toward postoperative pain management by acute pain service (APS) of healthcare providers in Srinagarind HospitalDesign: Descriptive \& prospective research Setting: The surgical, obstetrics \& gynecological, orthopaedics and otorhinolaryngology wards in Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University Population: All physicians and nurses work at those wards in Srinagarind Hospital Material and methods: The total 286 questionnaires from physicians and nurses were collected during August to October 2005. The informed consents were obtainedfrom all subjects. The demographic data, previous pain education, clinical experience, pain knowledge scores, level of satisfaction to APS and other variables were analysed. The data were analyzed using, and presented as, descriptive statistics. The Chi-square test was used to test for significant difference variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The response rate of questionnaire in physicians and nurses were 99.2% and 77.5%, respectively. The physicians’ knowledge scores were moderate to high and higher in nurse groups. The level of physicians’ knowledge significantly associated with previous pain education (p= 0.001). Attitudes toward postoperative pain management by APS of healthcare providers in term of physicians and nurses on satisfaction level were satisfied and highly satisfied, respectively. This survey suggests that our healthcare providers need the continuing organization and education in pain management and consultation system.Conclusion: Most physicians and nurses were satisfactory in attitudes towards postoperative pain management by APS. Practical recommendations are presented for increasing physicians and nurses’ knowledge about pain management. The continuing education and good consultation system might be useful in order to improve the quality of postoperative pain management in our hospital.Keywords: knowledge, Attitude, Acute pain service